Nicole Glaros got her entrepreneurial start at a young age, orchestrating cousins into theatrical plays and charging neighbors admission. Since then, she has spent over a decade mentoring and funding early stage web software companies in Colorado, NYC, Texas, and beyond.

Most recently, she is a Partner and Chief Product Officer at Techstars, a global ecosystem for entrepreneurs based out of Boulder. She has been with Techstars since its early days in 2009, has run eight programs and has close to 90 companies in her portfolio. She helps spin up new programs, train new managing directors, and is always on the lookout for companies that are a great fit for the Techstars Venture Fund. She serves on the Board of Directors for SimpleEnergy, Owlet and the Entrepreneur’s Foundation of Colorado.

Entrepreneur Magazine named her One of the Most 7 Powerful Women to Watch, Business Insider named her one of the Coolest People in New York Tech and an Extraordinary Woman in New York Tech, and Marie Clare recognized her as one of the NewGuard.

She is married to the love of her life and has two young children under 5 who still don’t sleep through the night. But they keep her honest, playful, and acutely aware of how short life is. She loves all things outside and you’ll often find her on a trail run, a mountain bike ride, or skiing. She loves to travel to places that are radically different from anything I’ve experienced before. She has a big fat Greek family with all the hilarity that ensues. She loves pushing her limits, learning new things, being competitive and having fun. Most entrepreneurs will best describe her as tough love, but the values she holds most dear are trust, transparency, honesty, and helping those around me live up to their full potential. In fact, at Techstars, they call it #givefirst. I love movies but hate TV, I never watch the news, I love parties but hate small talk, and email is slowly becoming the bain of my existence. She has way more ideas in my head than I have time to blog about, so you’ll see her go through writing spurts (then silence).

Lauren Mosenthal, Founder & CTO, Glassbreakers

Lauren Mosenthal is the Founder & CTO of Glassbreakers, a peer mentorship community for professional women based in San Francisco. Lauren was previously a Creative Developer at AKQA in San Francisco and a Creative Technologist at Made Movement in Boulder. Lauren has worked on a variety of brands including Audi, Jordan, Activision, Udis, Dunkin’ Donuts and a number of technology startups. She attended graduate school at BDW of University of Colorado Boulder where she learned development and user experience design. During a software engineering apprenticeship at Mode Set while attending BDW, Lauren fell in love with coding and never looked back. When Lauren isn’t creating software, she runs the blog Inspiring People in Creative Spaces and is an avid half marathon runner and yogi.

Innovation panel sponsored by

9:30am - Table Discussions

10:05am - Break

10:30am - Keynote: Alex Roddy, Global Head of Marketing at Prologis

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Alex Roddy, Global Head of Marketing at Prologis

Alex Roddy is the global head of marketing for Prologis, the world’s leading owner, operator and developer of industrial real estate. She is a collaborative, creative, high energy executive who is deeply committed to ensuring that workplace cultures change to become more open and inclusive so that the halls of power better reflect the diversity of our communities. Alex is a charismatic, high-energy, senior executive accomplished at building, leading, and inspiring teams to deliver and succeed. She is a customer-driven, creative strategist with a passion for implementation with unique capacity for quickly and effectively absorbing large amounts of quantitative and qualitative data, and turning information into actionable insights. Alex has been recognized by Worth magazine as "Schwab's most media-savvy executive.”

Morning keynote sponsored by

11:05am - Break

11:30am - Lunch and Fireside Chat

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Take a peek into the journeys of three local and highly successful technology leaders - Lucy Sanders, Nancy Phillips, and Avis Yates-Rivers. Each forged a unique path to stand apart and thrive in highly competitive, ever-evolving tech environments. In this interactive discussion, you’ll have the opportunity to gather pearls and learnings from their decades of experience in this fast-paced, high-growth industry. Their stories will illustrate that the keys to success in this space are not prescriptive or one-size-fits-all; rather they are individualized, opportunistic, and created.

Nancy Phillips, CEO, ViaWest

As co-founder and CEO, Nancy Phillips has a vested interest in maintaining ViaWest's market leadership position by deploying high-performing operational teams that deliver exceptional results for customers. With Shaw Communications’ recent acquisition of ViaWest, Phillips is now focused on building a best-in-class organization across North America. Her commitment to service delivery and operational excellence sets the standard at ViaWest. With more than 25 years of management experience in technology, Phillips has had an remarkable impact on the industry. Prior to ViaWest, Phillips was the Vice President of Operations for RMI.net, where she was integral to the company's regional leadership position and growth. Prior to helping RMI.net back to profitability, Phillips consulted for numerous successful telecommunications companies, including France Telecom, MCI and Qwest. She began her career with Teleconferencing Systems Canada as Vice President of Sales and Operations.

In addition to being recognized by ViaWest for her outstanding contributions, Phillips has won recognition for excellence throughout the industry, receiving: Colorado Technology Association's "Bob Newman Lifetime Achievement Award" Denver Business Journal's "Outstanding Woman in Business" in the high-tech category, Denver Business Journal "Outstanding Women in Business Jean Yancey Award” - Recognition by the Denver Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners.

Currently, Phillips holds board positions for the Colorado Technology Association, National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT) and Startup Colorado. In these roles, Nancy develops and promotes initiatives to develop a vibrant technology community. Phillips holds an Honors Bachelor of Economics from Queens University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada.

Lucy Sanders, President/CEO, NCWIT

Lucy Sanders is CEO and Co-founder of the National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT) and also serves as Executive-in-Residence for the ATLAS Institute at the University of Colorado at Boulder (CU).

Lucy has an extensive industry background, having worked in R&D and executive (VP) positions at AT&T Bell Labs, Lucent Bell Labs, and Avaya Labs for over 20 years, where she specialized in systems-level software and solutions (multi-media communication, and customer relationship management. In 1996, Lucy was awarded the Bell Labs Fellow Award, the highest technical accomplishment bestowed at the company, and she has six patents in the communications technology area.

Lucy serves on several high-tech startup and non-profit boards, and frequently advises young technology companies. Lucy has served on the Mathematical Sciences Research Institute (MSRI) Board of Trustees at the University of California at Berkeley, as well as on the Information Technology Research and Development Ecosystem Commission for the National Academies and the Innovation Advisory Board for the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Lucy is a recipient -- along with NCWIT co-founders Robert Schnabel and Telle Whitney -- of the Computing Research Association's 2012 A. Nico Habermann Award. In 2004 she was awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award from the Department of Engineering at CU, and in 2011 she was recognized with the university's George Norlin Distinguished Service Award. She has been inducted into the Women in Technology International (WITI) Hall of Fame and is a recipient of the 2013 U.S. News STEM Leadership Hall of Fame Award. Lucy received her BS and MS in computer science from Louisiana State University and the University of Colorado at Boulder, respectively.

Avis Yates-Rivers is the President and CEO of Technology Concepts Group International, LLC

Avis Yates-Rivers is the President and CEO of Technology Concepts Group International, LLC, (TCGi), an information technology solutions provider and full-service equipment leasing firm. She possesses more than thirty years of general management experience in the information technology industry. Ms. Yates Rivers has been a successful entrepreneur for 27 years. TCGi supports the public and private sector in the areas of IT Asset Management, equipment financing, professional and technical services (field mobility, network/desktop support, break/fix, voice/data cabling and asset management solutions). The firm also provides project and program management, business analysis and planning, implementation, and training.

Prior to establishing her first company in 1985, Ms. Yates Rivers enjoyed an 11-year career at Exxon Corporation and its subsidiaries. She rose to the rank of Account Executive as a result of successfully marketing the line of technology products of Exxon Office Systems Company in New York City. Ms. Yates Rivers has worked tirelessly to increase the development and utilization of minority and women-owned businesses in both the public and private sectors. She has held leadership positions in various supplier diversity advocacy organizations such as the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC), the Women Presidents' Educational Organization (WPEO), the NJ Small Business Development Center, the Newark Regional Business Partnership, and the BPU Supplier Diversity Development Council.

Ms. Yates Rivers is also a staunch advocate for increasing girls’ and women’s participation in Information Technology. She is a Director of the National Center for Women and Information Technology (www.ncwit.org) and was recently honored as a White House Champion of Change in STEM. Ms. Yates Rivers and TCGi have been the recipient of local and national recognition (please visit her web site for the list). Ms. Yates Rivers makes her home in Somerset, New Jersey. She is married to Robert Rivers and they have four children and six grandchildren. She graduated City University of NY with a degree in Business Administration. Additionally, she is a graduate of the Executive Management Programs at the Amos Tuck School of Business, the Kellogg Graduate School of Management, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is a highly sought after business leader, a nationally recognized advocate for the utilization of minority and women-owned businesses, and women in Computing, and a proficient public speaker/presenter. Sis. Rivers is an active member of the Garretson Road Church of Christ where she serves as Chairperson of the Ladies’ Committee.

Lunch sponsored by

12:35pm - Table Discussion & Break

1:05pm - Luminary Leadership Dialogues

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Sherri Hammons, CTO, IQNavigator

Sherri Hammons is one of the most accomplished women in Colorado’s technology field, highlighted by her recent role leading Colorado’s Office of Information Technology (OIT), her earlier roles as a senior executive at PaySimple and Abacus, and her current role as CTO of IQNavigator. She has been a true innovator and a respected leader in each phase of her career. Hammons’ reputation as an effective technology officer originated with her work at Abacus and then as CTO of Colorado-based PaySimple. This led to the opportunity to be CTO for the entire State of Colorado when she joined the Hickenlooper administration to lead the Office of Information Technology. Hammons tackled this new role with the same sharp strategic vision, commitment to innovation and effective leadership that made her so successful in prior roles. She led a number of major, awarded initiatives for the state, and is widely respected for the work she did to position the state for technology competitiveness. Hammons recently returned to the private sector, joining IQNavigator as CTO. IQNavigator develops enterprise software to manage contingent workers such as contractors, freelancers and temps.

Kelly Leger, Vice President, Merkle

Ms. Kelly Leger has been Vice President of Digital Data Solutions at Merkle Inc. since Feb, 2015. Ms. Leger served as Senior Vice President and General Manager of Digital Solutions at V12 Group, Inc and served as its Vice President of Digital Solutions. She was responsible for the strategic direction, implementation, and technical planning for V12 Group's Digital division. She also oversaw V12 Group's online sales team. She has over 15 years of experience in data solutions, business development, strategic planning and product development for several leading multi-media groups and consumer data providers. Prior to V12 Group, Ms. Leger spent three years working in the emerging field of online Audience Targeting. Prior to this, she served as the First Senior Director of Data Partnerships and Business development for the online division at Datalogix. In this role, her primary focus was to create high-level partnerships with large social networks, lead-generation companies, and Fortune 500 publishers for audience development and extension. Ms. Leger holds a dual bachelors degree in Political Science and Public Relations from Marquette University.

Catharine Merigold, General Partner, Vista Ventures

Catharine Merigold has been a professional investor in technology in Colorado since 1992, first with Centennial Ventures, then founding Vista Ventures in 2000. She has been an entrepreneur (founding CEO of Centennial Security), an intra-preneur (VP Sales and Marketing at US West Wireless), a turn-around CEO (CEO of University Technology Corp), and started her career as a telecommunications engineer. She has served on more than 15 boards. Through all, her passion is about helping to create possibility – in people’s lives, in businesses, in non-profits, and in communities.

Catharine received her BS in Electrical Engineering with final honors (top 10%) from Washington University in St. Louis, and her MBA from Stanford University. She has lived abroad three times. Catharine is an international speaker on venture capital, entrepreneurship, and women in finance and technology. She has been consistently recognized for the value she brings to the business and entrepreneurial communities, including being awarded the 2006 Outstanding Woman in Business Award for Banking and Finance in Denver, and the 2006 Esprit Entrepreneur Robert Planchard Award.

Kerry O’Grady, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Secret Service

During her 21 years in the United States Secret Service, Kerry O’Grady has served as a criminal investigator, polygraph examiner, protective detail agent and leader. She has investigated threats to our Nation’s financial infrastructure and to our continuity of Government. She has served three different presidential administrations and was promoted to Shift Leader while assigned to the Presidential Protective Division, during which time she coordinated the inner perimeter of the President’s security team.

Locally, she has supervised the security plan for the Democratic National Convention in 2008 and the Presidential Debate in 2012. As Special Agent in Charge of the Denver Field Office District, which encompasses Colorado, Utah, Wyoming and Idaho, she is responsible for the Secret Service’s investigative and protective missions in a geographic territory that covers 1/9th of the United States. As a part of that role, she has oversight of the Secret Service Colorado Electronic Crimes Task Force, which brings together resources from Federal, State and Local law enforcement, as well as the private sector and academia, to combat the cyber threat to the Nation’s financial and critical infrastructure.

Kerry’s ongoing, and quite possibly most challenging, protective mission of late consists of ensuring that her canine running companion does not eliminate the geese and squirrel populations from Washington Park on their regular morning runs.

For more than 20 years, and a nearly 100% success rate, Aimee empowers women to pull on those “big-girl panties” and take control of their careers.

She owns Cohen Career Consulting, writes for the Denver Business Journal, facilitates a leadership program for executive women, has appeared on Denver’s Channels 4, 7, and 9 News, Fox News NY, and HuffPostLive, numerous national radio shows, has been cited in the Wall Street Journal, Fortune, Glamour and the Denver Post, and is an Outstanding Women in Business Award nominee.

If you want to know about Aimee Cohen, then you need to know what she believes…”There is a special place in hell for women who don’t help other women.” — Madeleine Albright